Huon Aquaculture has boosted investment in underwater robotic technology to help its salmon farming operations by doubling its fleet of Saab Seaeye Falcons to four vehicles.
Each Falcon has five powerful thrusters and an intelligent distributed control system within a compact 1 x 0.5 x 0.6 metre versatile system that can operate at 300m and 1000m. The two new machines will join the fleet to inspect nets, rigging and moorings at Huon’s aquaculture pens, which farm over 24,000t of fresh salmon a year.
Huon’s pens are positioned in areas of strong current and rough water favoured for salmon farming as it mimics their natural habitat, but designed for rough conditions, “the Falcon can remain steady under robust conditions whilst undertaking delicate or rugged tasks and manoeuvre with precision as needed,” said Saab Seaeye.
Precise positioning
The Falcon’s iCON behaviour-based intelligent control architecture offers precise positioning and active station-keeping to let the operator concentrate on the task in hand thereby reducing their workload. The vehicle’s intelligent control system allows for a wide range of equipment to be easily added and changed for many different tasks.
Its low profile enables deployment sideways between a walkway and the net. Its thrusters have no shaft seals to service or inspect and there is no oil within the vehicle to monitor.
